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Usually ships in 1 business days | | | | | | Photographic artists and students of alternative process photography will welcome this new edition of Christopher James' The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes. This significantly expanded edition is a full-color, lavishly illustrated, comprehensive resource that explores every aspect of alternative process image making. With his highly conversational writing style, James explores the techniques, processes, idiosyncrasies, history, and cultural connections that are such a significant part of the genre. Best of all, James makes it extremely accessible, providing clear instructions and practical workflow advice. The book delves into a vast menu of alternative and traditional options, among them: calotype, salted paper, cyanotype, argyrotype, chrysotype, POP, kallitype, ambrotype/wet collodion, Van Dyke, platinum/palladium, Ziatype, gelatin dry plate emulsions, carbon, gum bichromate, albumen, hand-applied emulsions, paper, alternative imaging systems, and digital negative production for alternative process image making. This book has become the unanimous standard reference text for alternative process photography, one that students love to read and work from. Not only does this definitive work make the most complex ideas easy to understand, it is conversational, comfortable, inspirational, and fun to read- a tremendous resource and a treasure trove of alternative process images. "The first edition was a stunning achievement, and one I felt that was not likely to be superceded. Five short years later Christopher James has created a very new work and a new standard. The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes: 2nd Edition is, by far, the best alternative photographic process book ever!" - Richard Sullivan, Founder and Co-Owner, Bostick & Sullivan "If I could only have one photography book this would be it." -Timothy Whelan, Photographic Books | | | |
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| | Product Details | | Author: | Christopher James | | Paperback: | 660 pages | | Publisher: | Delmar Cengage Learning | | Publication Date: | February 12, 2008 | | Language: | English | | ISBN: | 1418073725 | | Product Length: | 10.86 inches | | Product Width: | 8.55 inches | | Product Height: | 1.17 inches | | Product Weight: | 3.91 pounds | | Package Length: | 10.8 inches | | Package Width: | 8.5 inches | | Package Height: | 1.2 inches | | Package Weight: | 3.9 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 42 reviews |
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 42 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Don't leave home without it Jun 09, 2011
By f64Islander
If you are having trouble sleeping don't pick this one up for a quick fix. Christopher's knowledge and wit will keep you engaged. I have a good many other books on alternative processes and this is my "Go to" volume. For those with an interest in historic processes, regardless of your skill level, this important text needs to be in your library. Neither the First nor Second editions have been anything other than first rate sources of information. My second edition is beginning to show the signs having a little too much chemistry spilled on it and I may have to get another as my breadth of knowledge and experience expands, thanks to Mr. James.
22 of 28 found the following review helpful:
 nice brochure Sep 07, 2009
By cfg
This is a great glossy overview of processes if you're curious about which to pursue, but not so much use as for practical instruction. James has an approach and writing style in which contradiction and lack of coherent detail(and perhaps even proofing errors) play no small role. Eccentric and charming at first (in a self-edited sort of way) it can be quite maddening if you make purchases or try out processes based on his recommendations and instructions. I'd seriously recommend double checking with other sources once you decide on a process to try out. Of course that's good advice for any source of info, but here it's critical. It's maddening that he'll list creme brulee recipes while be curiously tightlipped about crucial process details. I'm an experienced and largely self-taught printer- carbon transfer, albumen, tri-color gum and kallitype, so I'm not a novice that needs a lot of hand-holding.
A notable irritation is the gum chapter. A typical recipe- 'An 1 1/4 inchworm of watercolor per 12 full eyedroppers of gum and 12 full eyedroppers of dichromate'..? I wouldn't recommend measuring pigment unless you measure in all dimensions -aka volume- not just length. Much more accurate to weigh. And what size eyedroppers? When he does use traditional weights and measures they are inconsistent: he mentions Stephen Livick using 12g of pigment for every 12ml of dichromate when using Sennelier paints, double the concentration of other brands. In a separate section he then says Livick uses 2.5-4g g of Lindel paint in 12ml of dichromate. Forgetting for an instant that 12g of watercolor is an absolutely fantastic quantity of paint (I pigment 4 36x50cm 2mm thick carbon tissues with less- and that's 2 liters worth of solution) I still wouldn't call 12 the double of 2.5 or even 4.
I'm sure he is a wonderful printer, certainly his photographic eye is very good judging by his images, but as an instructor he reminds me of some teachers that give just enough info to engage and tantalize, but not seriously to give you a leg up on their years of toil/hard knocks, and maybe go so far as to play a few hazing tricks on you along the way. The best sections are those contributed by other printers- such as Mark Osterman's section on dry plate. Also much of the prints/ process examples are nice.
I'd been hoping for sections on traditional gravure, or at least photopolymer, also daguerreotype; no such luck. That's just a niggle though, I didn't seriously expect a complete resource on every process there is. Certainly it was a considerable undertaking as it was to assemble this volume. But considering the size of the book, and the cost, he could have been more precise about the subjects covered and sacrificed a little of that ingratiating style in the name of clarity.
All that said, I'm still glad this book exists, it is a wonderful introduction to the great world of alt printing. But be sure to check other sources before proceeding with any process.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Outstanding! A book for beginners and professionals! Jun 11, 2011
By Danny
Wonderful book! I have never had much success learning from books and had my doubts when I purchased this one. In buying the book my goal was to learn platinum, cyanotype, salt, and albumen printing. I succeeded in all four methods and many more. Christopher James writing is not only informative but entertaining, which is a rare combination. I am a professional photographer who was well versed in digital and darkroom printing but I wanted to expand my photographic toolbox and this book helped me achieve that. An outstanding resource!
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Book on Alternative Processes Jun 10, 2011
By BjornR
I started to explore the alternative (historic) photographic printing techniques approx. a year ago, and have learned lots of stuff by searching the net for information. I have also bought several books on the theme, but only this book had the information level I was searching. It is a thick book, and very structured. Great read too. So far I have only explored a few of the techniques described in the book, but it is a joy to read about all the other techniques. The author brings the techniques into perspective by starting each chapter with a historic overview. In this way, I have got a much better understanding of why and how the different techniques evolved. But most important: I get a much better understanding of how to make beautiful images printed in alternative techniques. Highly recommended.
I am running a blog on my personal experience with these techniques, and had to make a short review of the book on www.retrofoto.dk. Off course I gave it top score, which I also do here.
Bjorn
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
The ONLY book I refer to when printing in alternative processes Jun 09, 2011
By ArtDirector
I officially recycled all my other alt-pro books when I found this one. Why recycle? Because I didn't want to risk circulating bad information out there. Before finding Christopher's book, I had been working in alternative process photography, some techniques learned in college, some in workshops, some self taught for 15 years.
From set-up to process to finish, this book gives me all the instruction and troubleshooting clues I need to complete a successful print. He takes the mystery out of the process while sharing his sense of humor (necessary in this line of work).
I especially like the historical attributes he offers and that I can get all of this in one book! Yes, it's hefty, I don't carry it around with me. But it is prominently displayed in my studio where I work.
When I replaced my first edition with the second, I wrote on the inside front cover: "This is the first edition, good information but there is a newer edition out there so FIND IT!" then took it to the thrift store in hope that someone interested in alternative processes will find it and get hooked.
See all 42 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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